Ategi goes to Brussels to deliver a workshop and support the release of new Ukraine film

This week saw the release of the documentary film, “Ukraine-Paused Reforms”, created by award winning Bulgarian filmmaker Miroluba Benatova for the European Association of Service providers for Persons with Disabilities (EASPD). The film addresses the realities of persons with disabilities who have been forced to remain in Ukraine since the outbreak of the war and explores the country’s current path towards de-institutionalisation.  To mark the release of the film, the EASPD invited Ategi Communications and Engagement Manager, Kitty Treacy, to host a workshop, on the power of a co-production approach to filmmaking with people with disabilities, at their office in Brussels.

The EASPD film, “Ukraine-Paused Reforms”, provided a welcome contrast to the shocking coverage of Ukraine institutions reported by BBC News in July 2022. Miroluba Benatova’s coverage illustrated a gentler insight into social care in Ukraine and shined a light on individuals and organisations that are working hard to provide quality care to young people with disabilities against the challenging backdrop of the war with Russia.

The film was showcased in Brussels at the European Economic and Social Committee which was followed by panel discussions on the subject of de-institutionalising support for people with disabilities in Ukraine. Panellists included the filmmaker, Miroluba Benatova; EASPD Secretary General Maya Doneva and Head of Policy, Thomas Bignal; members of the Ukraine ministry and representatives from disability NGOs inlcuding Catherine Naughton, Director of the European Disability Forum and Eric Bloemkolk, SOFT Tulip Foundation as well as individuals whose stories were represented in the film.

The EASPD is a non-profit NGO in the disability sector, based in Brussels, that promotes the views of over 20,000 social services and their member organisations. They promote equal opportunities for people with disabilities through effective and high-quality service systems. As part of the build up to the screening of the film, the EASPD was keen to provide an opportunity for its member organisations to gain vital insight into filmmaking practices that could inform their content creation. Ategi Communications and Engagement Manager, Kitty Treacy, was among one of the professionals invited by the EASPD to deliver a workshop on how co-production can transform film production about people with disabilities. The workshop was directed, in particular, at communications professionals of EASPD member organisations to support their work.

It was a great chance for Ategi to showcase the great work we do as well share learning with European organisations in the same field.  

Watch the film here